Confining hand-held dispenser cap

ABSTRACT

A small hand-held dispenser of the pressurized container type, provided with a jumbo-size confining-type actuator cap arranged with a deep, cup-like depression in which the dispensed product is initially restricted. Such product, discharged in the form of a foam, reacts after discharge to form a cotton-like mass that is initially confined by the cup portion of the cap. The cup-like cap configuration is characterized by two oppositely-disposed deeply cut-away rim portions which give the rim a scallop-like shape whereby not only is there facilitated the removal of the product as a somewhat fluffy mass but in addition there is had the advantageous effect of large venting passages during the initial discharge, while the cap is being pushed inward by the palm of the user&#39;&#39;s hand. An adapter ring, which can be applied to a conventional pressurized container can, constitutes a locking means. The container has a curled, circular top rim and a metal closure cup secured thereto, the latter comprising an upright wall with an annular recess providing an undercut surface. The cup carries a valve member which is reciprocatably movable between predetermined limits. The actuator cap is movably carried on the cup, and comprises a yieldable and resilient depending skirt which is received in the upright cup wall. The skirt has external shoulder means which engage the upper and lower portions of the undercut surface to thereby enable limited axial movement of the cap with respect to the cup. The engagement of the shoulder means with the upper and lower portions of the undercut surface determines respectively the advanced and retracted positions of the cap. During assembly, the shoulder is forced past the upper portion of the undercut surface, and assumes a position wherein it occupies the annular recess of the upright cup wall to thereby retain the cap while enabling limited axial movement thereof.

United States Patent [1 1 Hayes Feb. 11', 1975 CONFINING HAND-HELD DISPENSER CAP foam, reacts after discharge to form a cotton-like mass [75] Inventor: Thomas H. Hayes, Westport, Conn. that IS mlilany confined by h i Pomon of the The cup-like cap configuration IS characterized by two Asslgneei rp Greenwlch, oppositely-disposed deeply cut-away rim portions CO which give the rim a scallop-like shape whereby not 22 d: N l, 1973 only is there facilitated the removal of the product as 1 l e M a somewhat fluffy mass but in addition there is had the PP 412,050 advantageous effect of large venting passages during Related US. Application Data w g i g iz g l K i F L g ,w a a uses an. naaperrmg,

[63] commudmmn'pan of which can be applied to a conventional pressurized I972, Pat. No. 3,770,170.

container can, constitutes a locking means. The con- U S Cl 222/402 11 tainer has a curled, circular top rim and a metal clo- [51] B65d 41218 sure cup secured thereto, the latter comprising an up- [58] Fie'ld 11 182 right wall with an annular-recess providing an under- I 222/2102 2, cut surface. The cup carries a valve member which is reciproca tably movable between predetermined limits.

. The actuator cap is movably carried on the cup, and

[56] References Cited comprises a yieldable and resilient depending skirt UNITED STATES PATENTS which is received in the upright cup wall. The skirt has.

2,906,440 9/1959 Focht ZZZ/402.13 external shoulder means which engage the upper and 3,224,645 9 t 222/402-l3 lower portions of the undercut surface to thereby en- 3,426,948 2 /l969 Stirling 222/402.l I able limited axial movement of the Cap with respect to Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l-l. Gibner Lehmann; K. Gibner Lehmann sion in which the dispensed product is initially restricted. Such product, discharged in the form of a the cup. The engagement of the shoulder means with V the upper and lower portions of the undercut surface determines respectively the advanced and retracted positions of the cap. During assembly, the shoulder is forced past the upper portion of the undercut surface, and assumes a position wherein it occupies the annular recess of the upright cup wall to thereby retain the cap while enabling limited axial movement thereof.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures [III/Ill/I/I/I/I/I/I/I 26a 16a 54a 1 CONFINING HAND-HELD DISPENSER CAP CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND This invention relates to small hand-held dispensers of the type employing pressurized cans, and more particularly to the discharge cap or actuator devices provided for such dispensers. In the past, numerous jumbotype actuator caps for pressurized hand-held dispensers have been proposed and produced. With the advent of different kinds of products that were intended to be dispensed to-satisfy a variety of purposes, the dispenser caps were often modified or adapted so as to suit the particular product being used, thereby adding to the convenience and practicability of the dispenser.

One newly developed product is a formulation which is discharged as a foam, and which reacts after its discharge, so as to form a cotton-like mass. Such a product has been provided with cleansing and antiseptic ingredients whereby the resultant cotton-like mass is found useful as a means of cleaning and sterilizing cuts, small wounds and the like, as well as providing a soft antiseptic dressing for the same. In the co-pending application of Wolf Steiman above identified, a jumbotype cap is disclosed, having a cup-like or hollow top configuration adapted to contain such a cotton-like mass in the manner of a serving means by which it is readily formed and antiseptically confined until removal. While this prior serving type cap has in general been satisfactory, l have found that due to the pressurized nature of the discharge there is a tendency for the find an outlet whereby the discharging product sometimes squirts free past the cap edges which are confined by the users hand. While this has no serious or tragic results, it constitutes an unexpected occurrence which sometimes startles the user and/or results in an untidy condition.

With the advent of increased sophistication in packaging, actuator caps for aerosol devices are now being considered unacceptable if they can be accidentally actuated'during shipment and storage. In consequence, newer trends now stress locking-type actuator caps which have various detent-or. latch mechanisms intended to prevent accidental discharge of the contents thereof during rough or improper handling.

A still important consideration, however, is to maintain a low cost while yet retaining reliability of function and smoothness of operation. Prior jumbo-type caps generally lacked an adequate means for retaining, and for limiting their movement. Some arrangements were expensive to produce, and in many cases, no satisfac- SUMMARY The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior dispenser actuators are obviated by the present invention, which has for one object the provision of a novel and improved actuator cap for foamy or fibre-forming products, which cap can be readily incorporated in or attached to conventional pressurized cans and still provide a satisfactory and reliable, yet extremely simple and economical detent and movement-limiting means during use of the dispenser. A related object of the invention is to provide an improved actuator cap construction as above characterized, which is especially smooth in its operation, and which permits quick and easy assemblage to pressurized containers. These objects are accomplished by the provision of a jumbotype cylindrical cap body having in its top portion a deep cup-like recess or confining surface, arranged with deep scalloped opposite sides by which large air vent passages exist even when the users hand is applied to the cap body to force the same inward. The cap body has a centrally disposed depending detent and control skirt adapted to telescope within the metal valve mounting cup of the conventional pressurized can, and has especially arranged, shoulder means which are cooperable with an undercut wall of the valve mounting cup of the pressurized can. This detent means on the metal mounting cup and the skirt of the cap body hold the latter captive and also determine the limits of movement. The objectives of the inventionare attained by the provision of only few pieces, namely .the jumbosize cap body and the metal valve mounting cup like that on conventional pressurized dispenser cans.

Still other features and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

1n the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of the upper'portion of a pressurized dispenser having the improved, locking-type jumbo cap provided with integral, molded detent means. The cap is shown in the non-discharging, locked position.

FIG. 2 isa view like that of FIG. 1, but showing a slightly modified form of the invention.-

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the parts in the discharging position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cap body of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view of a dispenser and cap illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the valve is of the female type.

Referring first to'FlG. 1 there is shown a pressurized container or can 10 having a circular top closure wall 12 which is secured at its periphery by a crimped edge peripheral side walls 28 of the mounting cup 18 are of undercut configuration whereby the lower portion has a larger inside diameter than the inside diameter of the upper or curl portion 20.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a unique jumbo, product-serving or-holding type actuator cap designated generally by the numeral 30, such cap having a cylindrical outer side wall 32 the lower edge 34 of which is shown asreceived in an annular groove 36 in the container top wall 12. The actuator cap 30 has a hollow or concave, cup-like transverse top wall 38 provided with a depending hollow boss or sleeve 40 adapted to loosely fit overthe valve stem 24. The wall 38 has a central discharge opening 42 by which the product to be dispensed, passing out through edge type of formation, comprising in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 a pair of diametrically opposite, deep and wide curved notches 44 adapted to constitute air venting passages at such time that the users hand is applied'to the top or end of the actuator cap 30 to depress the latter, with the container held in the inverted position. The notches 44 are seen to have a depth greater than half the depth of the cup-shaped top wall 38. The top scalloped edge of the cap 30 is defined by a narrow top wall portion 46 which has two opposite convex portions 48 joined together by two opposite concave portions 50, in a sinusoidal configuration.

In accordance with the invention, depending from the cup-like top wall 38 is a guide skirt 52 which telescopically fits within the peripheral undercut curl portion 20 of the mounting cup 18, thereby constituting a guide for the cap 30 to enable the latter to have vertical depressing movement for depressing the valve stem 24 to effect discharge of the product.

Also, in accordance with the invention, the depending guide skirt 52 is provided with a plurality of detent beads 54 which are engageable with the inner surface of the curl 20 of the mounting cup 18 to hold the cap 30 captive on the container while permitting limited vertical movement thereon. As seen in FIG. 1, the cap 30 is in its raised, non-discharging position from which it must first be turned (approximately 90) and then shifted downward or inward to a slightly depressed position so as to actuate the valve stem 24 and open the valve (not shown), thereby to enable product to be discharged into the cavity formed by the cup-like wall 38 of the cap. Such depressing movement of the actuator cap 30 is effected with the dispenser inverted, by applying the palm of the hand to the cap rim or edge 46, 48

and pressing the container downward toward the palm. When this is done, the notches 44 will ordinarily not be closed by the users hand but instead will constitute large, venting openings that prevent pressure build-up in the cup portion 38 of the cap and accordingly minimize the likelihood of any squirting out of the product 'or messy discharge wherein the product is not fully There is illustrated in FIG. 1 an adapter member by which a safety, locking feature of the cap is bad. The said adapter member is in the form of a ring or annulus a circular top surface or track 64 on which there rides the bottom edges of a pair of locking-wall formations 66, such formations having curved wall portions 68 and end wall portions 70 as seen in FIG. 1.

The end wall portions 70 of the locking-walls 66 constitute end stops, and are cooperable with raised portions 72 provided on the tracks 64 of the adapter ring 58. By such arrangement, the cap 30 can be turned approximately between the end stops, from a raised locked position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to a raised unlocked position wherein the wall formations 66 register with elongate notches 74 in the track 64 of the ring 58. For such latter condition, clearance space is had below the locking walls 66 whereby the cap 30 is-no longer locked in its raised, non-discharging position but instead can be depressed, enabling the wall formations 66 to occupy the notches 74.

The ring 58 is frictionally secured in place and normally can be turned only with difficulty, whereupon the locking and unlocking of the cap is effected by turning the latter approximately 90, between the two extreme positions as determined by the end stops 72 of the ring 58. I

The assemblage of the adapter ring 58 to the pressurized can can be quickly and easily'effected by a suitable pressing or stamping operation, and the assembly of the cap 30 to the can 10 can be likewise easily and quickly effectedf Only two molded plastic parts are thus involved, namely the cap 30 and the ring 58, and such parts can be readily molded in simple cavities, and can be economically mass produced.

Another embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 2-5. In these figures the cap 30a has a rounded top rim 48a of scalloped configuration, and has a central, depending detent skirt 52a provided with retaining shoulder means in the form of curved beads 54a.

The container 10 has a metal valve mounting cup 18a with a crimping curl 20a, the annular side wall 28a of the cup being undercut, so to speak, or formed with an annular recess 29 into which the retainer beads 54a can be snapped. The cap 30a, being molded of resilient plastic, is yieldable at the skirt 52a to enable such assembly-to be effected.

The annular recess 29 in the cup 18a is seen to have a rounded bottom, that is, the cross sectional shape is somewhat like a rounded letter V. FIG. 2 illustrates the retainer action of the beads 54a, and FIG. 3 illustrates the extent of movement permitted the cap 30a by virtue of the presentdetent arrangement involving the skirt 52a.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, which shows a valve assemblage 26b of the type known as a female valve. The actuator cap 30b has a depending centralboss or valve stem 31 adapted to enter the valve 26b so as to actuate the same. The cap 30b also has a depending detent skirt 52b provided with slots 55 which increase its ability to yield inwardly during assemblage to the container. The skirt 52b has detent nibs or beads 54b engageable with the recessed side wall 28b of the enclosure cup 1812. FIG. 6 illustrates two such slots in the skirt 52b. The slots divide the skirt into multiple portions capable of limited flexing movement toward and away from one another during assembly, when by-pass of the beads 54b and the upper portion of the annular recess 28b occurs. The use of two, three, or four slots in the skirt has been found to be satisfactory and to provide acceptable operation of the dispenser. In FIG. 6, the skirt 52b is shown in dotted lines in the position it occupies corresponding to the discharging condition of the cap 30b. The operation of this embodiment in retaining the cap and limiting the movement thereof is similar to that already described above. It will be noted that a clearance space 57 exists between the beads 54b and the upper portion of the wall 28b when the cap is in the raised, non-discharging position. This is a safety feature, preventing advertent opening or leaking of the valve. The same clearance is seen to exist in FIG. 2, showing the closed condition of the cap 30a.

The construction is seen to be especially simple, reliable and foolproof in its operation, and there is had not only the safety feature of a locking-type cap but also the smooth function of the detent arrangement comprising the beads on the depending skirtof the cap, which beads engage the undercut annular wall of the metal valve mounting cup. The detent action is had without involving additional parts, whereby the cost of the dispenser is not increased. The beads 54, 54a or 54b are formed as integral portions of the caps, when the caps are molded.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hand-held dispenser for a pressurized product, comprising in combination:

a. a container having a circular top rim,

b. a closure cup secured to the top rim of the container,

c. said cup having an upright wall with an annular recess providing an undercut surface, said wall further having an out-turned crimping bead adapted to be crimped over the rim of the container,

d. a valving member carried by said cup and reciprocative between predetermined end limits,

e. an actuator cap having means engageable with said valving member to operate the latter, said cap having a depending skirt insertable and movable in the upright wall of the cup, f. said skirt having shoulder means adapted to be received in the annular recess of the cup wall, for enabling limited axialmovement of said cap between advanced and retracted positions with respect to said cup,

g. said shoulder means normally retaining the cap against removal from the cup, h. said container having a top wall provided with an annular groove at the outer edge, i. an additional depending skirt disposed outside and concentric with the first-mentioned skirt, j. said additional skirt constituting the outer wall of the cap,

k. said additional skirt being receivable in said annular groove of the container top wall when the actuator cap is moved to its retracted position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said actuator cap has a transverse hollow top wall having a discharge orifice substantially at its center,

b. said engageable means comprising a hollow, de-

pending, internally shouldered boss on the actuator cap adapted to receive and abut said valving member and providing communicating between the valving member and the cap orifice.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said cap has a transverse top wall of hollow configuration.

4. A hand-held dispenser for a pressurized product,

comprising in combination:

a. a container having a top wall and a circular top rim surrounding said wall, and having an annular groove in said wall adjacent said rim,

a closure cup secured to the top rim of the container,

c. said cup having an upright wall with an annular recess providing an undercut surface, said wall further having an outturned crimping bead adapted to be crimped over the rim of the container,

d. a valving member carried by said cup and reciprocative between predetermined end limits,

e. an actuator cap having means engageable with said valving member to operate the latter, said cap having adepending skirt insertable and movable in the upright wall of the cup,

f. said skirt having shoulder means adapted to be received in the annular recess of the cup wall, for enabling limited axial movement of said cap with respect to said cup,

g. said shoulder means normally retaining the cap against removal from the cup,

h. said undercut surface having an upper portion and a lower portion,

i. said cap being axially movable with respect to the cup between an advanced, non-discharging position, and a retracted position wherein the shoulder engages the lower portion of the undercut surface,

j. said cap in its retracted position effecting discharge of the pressurized contents of the dispenser through said valving member,

k. said cap having a transverse top wall of hollow configuration, and g 1. an additional depending skirt disposed outside and concentric with the first-mentioned skirt,

m. said additional skirt constituting the outer wall of the cap,

n. said additional skirt being received in said annular groove in the top wall of the container when the actuator cap is moved to its retracted position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein:

a. said actuator cap is molded of plastic substance as an integral piece,

said cup being constituted as a drawn, one-piece metal stamping,

c. said upper and lower portions of the undercut surface of thecup being integral with one another. 

1. A hand-held dispenser for a pressurized product, comprising in combination: a. a container having a circular top rim, b. a closure cup secured to the top rim of the container, c. said cup having an upright wall with an annular recess providing an undercut surface, said wall further having an outturned crimping bead adapted to be crimped over the rim of the container, d. a valving member carried by said cup and reciprocative between predetermined end limits, e. an actuator cap having means engageable with said valving member to operate the latter, said cap having a depending skirt insertable and movable in the upright wall of the cup, f. said skirt having shoulder means adapted to be received in the annular recess of the cup wall, for enabling limited axial movement of said cap between advanced and retracted positions with respect to said cup, g. said shoulder means normally retaining the cap against removal from the cup, h. said container having a top wall provided with an annular groove at the outer edge, i. an additional depending skirt disposed outside and concentric with the first-mentioned skirt, j. said additional skirt constituting the outer wall of the cap, k. said additional skirt being receivable in said annular groove of the container top wall when the actuator cap is moved to its retracted position.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said actuator cap has a transverse hollow top wall having a discharge orifice substantially at its center, b. said engageable means comprising a hollow, depending, internally shouldered boss on the actuator cap adapted to receive and abut said valving member and providing communicating between the valving member and the cap orifice.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said cap has a transverse top wall of hollow configuration.
 4. A hand-held dispenser for a pressurized product, comprising in combination: a. a container having a top wall and a circular top rim surrounding said wall, and having an annular groove in said wall adjacent said rim, a closure cup secured to the top rim of the container, c. said cup having an upright wall with an annular recess providing an undercut surface, said wall further having an outturned crimping bead adapted to be crimped over the rim of the container, d. a valving member carried by said cup and reciprocative between predetermined end limits, e. an actuator cap having means engageable with said valving member to operate the latter, said cap having a depending skirt insertable and movable in the upright wall of the cup, f. said skirt having shoulder means adapted to be received in the annular recess of the cup wall, for enabling limited axial movement of said cap with respect to said cup, g. said shoulder means normally retaining the cap against removal from the cup, h. said undercut surface having an upper portion and a lower portion, i. said cap being axially movable with respect to the cup between an advanced, non-discharging position, and a retracted position wherein the shoulder engages the lower portion of the undercut surface, j. said cap in its retracted position effecting discharge of the pressurized contents of the dispenser through said valving member, k. said cap having a transverse top wall of hollow configuration, and l. an additional depending skirt disposed outside and concentric with the first-mentioned skirt, m. said additional skirt constituting the outer wall of the cap, n. said additional skirt being received in said annular groove in the top wall of the container when the actuator cap is moved to its retracted position.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. said actuator cap is molded of plastic substance as an integral piece, said cup being constituted as a drawn, one-piece metal stamping, c. said upper and lower portions of the undercut surface of the cup being integral with one another. 